I promise you that MDC stocks browns in the Current and that they do not reproduce. The parr marked brown you caught has to be a little one that got into the truck from "Shepard of the Hills" hatchery.

I have communicated with the MDC fisheries biologist whose territory includes the upper portion of the Current River. He emphatically stated that the brown trout population in ALL Missouri waters do not successfully reproduce.

I was invited to participate in this years survey. I wish I could have made it, but other obligations made it impossible. I want to read the results, though I am rather confident that the numbers for the larger brown trout have declined year over year.

I too would like to see something done to inhibit the migration of brown trout into the park, but this after all is the "Show Me" State and any physical changes to either the ONSR or Montauk State Park would take a myriad of legislation.

I think an easier fix is to "swap" some areas around in the park. I would like see part of the area that is now fly fish only be given back to bait fisherman. In exchange I would propose that all water downstream from the handicap access point be designated fly fish only. This is a significant stretch of water. I am guessing at least one half mile of park water downstream to the wire.

I promise you that MDC stocks browns in the Current and that they do not reproduce. The parr marked brown you caught has to be a little one that got into the truck from "Shepard of the Hills" hatchery.

I have communicated with the MDC fisheries biologist whose territory includes the upper portion of the Current River. He emphatically stated that the brown trout population in ALL Missouri waters do not successfully reproduce.

I was invited to participate in this years survey. I wish I could have made it, but other obligations made it impossible. I want to read the results, though I am rather confident that the numbers for the larger brown trout have declined year over year.

I too would like to see something done to inhibit the migration of brown trout into the park, but this after all is the "Show Me" State and any physical changes to either the ONSR or Montauk State Park would take a myriad of legislation.

I think an easier fix is to "swap" some areas around in the park. I would like see part of the area that is now fly fish only be given back to bait fisherman. In exchange I would propose that all water downstream from the handicap access point be designated fly fish only. This is a significant stretch of water. I am guessing at least one half mile of park water downstream to the wire.

I apologize for hi-jacking your thread here.

Some great thoughts here. Is there any kind of movement to do anything to improve the Blue Ribbon section?

Brown trout eggs need winter water temperatures less than 53 degrees in order to hatch. Our spring-fed streams in the Ozarks are pretty temperature stable, and remain around 57-58 degrees through the winter- too warm for the eggs to hatch.

The White River tailwaters are able to draw very cold water from upstream reservoirs- allowing the hatcheries to operate as well as some successful spawning of browns.